Aruba holidays
Jump to sections
Holidays to Aruba might offer up all the Caribbean stereotypes, but this Dutch isle has a personality all of its own.
Caribbean scenery
Aruba floats in the southern Caribbean Sea, some 18 miles off the coast of Venezuela. It's got all the qualities a Caribbean island should have – white sands, swaying palm trees and bath-warm waters. The best swathe of coast is the 11-kilometre stretch that connects Palm Beach and Eagle Beach on the island’s western side. It was featured in TripAdvisor's' Travellers' Choice top 10 best beaches in the world in 2021.
Kingdom of the Netherlands
Aruba is actually part of a trio of islands known as the ABCs – Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao – and, together with Holland, they make up the Kingdom of the Netherlands. As such, there’s a Dutch influence on the island. De Olde Mollen in Palm Beach is a bona-fide Dutch windmill, which was shipped over from Holland in the Sixties. And the capital, Oranjestad, is crammed with Dutch-style colonial buildings.
American influence
Dutch isn’t the only culture that’s shaped Aruba. There’s a strong American influence, as well. A lot of the restaurants in Oranjestad and Palm Beach serve USA-style food like Tex-Mex, Buffalo wings and ribs. The capital's got its fair share of American fast food joints, too, and they rub shoulders with casinos and jewellery stores. Plus, newspapers like Aruba Today focus on American current affairs.
Beach resorts
Over in Palm Beach, one of the island’s most popular coastal resorts, high-rise hotels and swish casinos line the sands. At the other end of the spectrum, Eagle Beach is Aruba on a go-slow – think thatched beach hangouts serving up pina coladas. The latter gets loads of praise for its sugary sand and turquoise water, too. In fact, Condé Nast Traveller called it one of the world’s top beaches.
Departure tax now included
For holidays starting on or after 1st May 2019, you’ll no longer need to set aside any spending money for departure tax, as we’re including it within the cost of your holiday.